Sandy Butler has been in her fair share of accidents in her years of bicycling on the Peninsula. Potholes have sent the Newport News resident off-road — and off her bike — while trucks and other vehicles have pushed her into a few ditches. Despite the mishaps, Butler said she has never once thought about giving up cycling. "I'm not going to let something like that limit what I do," said Butler, a member of the Peninsula Bicycling Association. "I've been in more car accidents than I have biking.

NEWPORT NEWS - The city is expanding sidewalks and creating new ones for bicyclists and pedestrians to use - a plan that could prove to be unpopular with the cyclist community. "The assumption is that by moving pedestrians and bikes off the main road we are improving travel time and decreasing pollutants," Director of Engineering Everett Skipper said in an email. To aid in that effort, the city is expanding sidewalks to 8 feet along primary routes. Two projects are under way: •J.

Some of the finest national and international bicylists will be on hand Sept. 9 for the 4th annual Maryview Bike Classic in Portsmouth. These cyclists will be riding for such major teams as Team Mazda, Outspokin and Cool Max-Marinoni. Three-time Junior National Champion and Word Team member, Jonas, Carney, who last year won the Senior I-II race, is scheduled to return defend his title at "one of the fastest courses (he's) ever raced." There will be categories for just about every age group from novice to veteran.

Cyclist Mark Marshall was pedaling his bicycle from the Farm Fresh to the CVS on Route 10 recently, something he often does when he has a few small errands to run. Marshall is also the county's sheriff, but he was wearing a bright yellow cyclist's jersey that day, not his brown uniform and badge. As he prepared to make a left turn into the CVS parking lot from Gumwood Drive, he heard a car roaring up from behind. He looked back to see a gold Chevrolet sedan bearing down on him. Marshall said had to swerve out of the way and narrowly avoiding being hit. The car pulled into the CVS parking lot and Marshall caught up to the driver, telling him he's required to give cyclists room on the road.

NEWPORT NEWS - The city is expanding sidewalks and creating new ones for bicyclists and pedestrians to use - a plan that could prove to be unpopular with the cyclist community. "The assumption is that by moving pedestrians and bikes off the main road we are improving travel time and decreasing pollutants," Director of Engineering Everett Skipper said in an email. To aid in that effort, the city is expanding sidewalks to 8 feet along primary routes. Two projects are under way: •J.

Williamsburg will be among the host locations for Bike Virginia, a five-day bicycling event held each June. Between 1,200 and 1,500 cyclists from more than 40 states are expected to participate in the fun ride for all ages. Other host areas are West Point, Windmill Point, Colonial Beach and Warsaw/Tappahannock. Participating counties include Mathews, Westmoreland, Lancaster, Northumberland, King and Queen, New Kent, James City, Richmond, Essex, Middlesex, Gloucester, King William and York.

When "Tour de France" is mentioned, most people immediately think of Lance Armstrong. But in the late 1920s, Italian racer Giuseppe Pancera competed in the race four times. Unlike modern cyclists, Pancera rode his bike to the race. His daughter, Enrica Pierce, is a Newport News resident who, along with her daughter, Cathy Breckenridge, is translating Pancera's journal into English to keep his memory alive. Story, C15

Cyclists and runners occupy the spotlight this weekend in the Hampton Roads area, including the ninth annual Southeastern Cycling Classic Saturday at Waterside in Norfolk. Area road runners will be competing in the 13th annual 10K Elizabeth River Run, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in Norfolk. The cycling event, beginning at 11:30 a.m., is a 20-mile race around the course at Waterside in downtown Norfolk. "It's going to be quite a weekend for cyclists and people who enjoy watching them race," said race director Peter Teeuwen.

Ask Jerry Burkett about riding a bicycle on Peninsula roads, and he has no trouble describing how dangerous the experience can be. "It's not a matter of whether you are going to get hit, but when," said Burkett, a 27-year-old cyclist who works at HDK Cycles in Hampton. "You just hope it's not too bad. The potential is there." The area's roadways are crowded and narrow and very rarely include a bike lane, cyclists say. Hampton Roads has received the dubious distinction of having the highest cyclist fatality rate in the state.

Going for a bike ride in Newport News? Hampton? York? Williamsburg? Get in your car. There's just no way around it. The Peninsula is severed in all directions by high-volume, high-speed arteries designed for motorists. The roads have no bike lanes, they often have no shoulders, and most cyclists with a healthy dose of adult fear know better than to head those ways. Far better to load up the bikes, drive to a friendly stretch of road, then start pedaling. Consider Warwick Boulevard, Jefferson Avenue and Route 17. Or Mercury Boulevard or Settlers Landing Road.

The Tour de France may be an ocean away, but cycling enthusiasts in Hampton Roads won't have to travel far to see their favorite sport this weekend. Thanks to the efforts of Celerity Cycling, a cycling team based out of southern Virginia, organizers have worked for a year preparing to welcome around 200 riders between three races on Saturday and Sunday in Newport News, Williamsburg and New Kent. The inaugural Tour of Hampton Roads 2014 is expected to attract cyclists and cycling fans from around the state, according to Celerity Cycling vice president Frank Cundiff.

For Robert Burton Sr., riding a bicycle is more than just exercise. It has helped heal body and mind from the damage inflicted by two combat tours in Iraq and subsequent medical problems. The 39-year-old Virginia Beach resident, who served with the 1st Armored Division, began riding while recovering at the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Eustis. He had been involved in three incidents with improvised explosive devices while in Iraq. He had surgery on his neck and back. At one point, he needed a cane to walk.

Roadway courtesy I'd like to call your attention to the various places where sidewalks are closed for construction. These closures make it necessary for the pedestrians and cyclists who use the affected sidewalks to take to the street. Nevertheless, I've been honked at, yelled at, and sworn at by drivers who helpfully instruct me to "Get on the sidewalk," - in spite of those big orange signs bearing the words "Sidewalk Closed. " First, when a sidewalk is closed, it really and truly is closed - those signs don't have some clever alternative meaning.

Sandy Butler has been in her fair share of accidents in her years of bicycling on the Peninsula. Potholes have sent the Newport News resident off-road — and off her bike — while trucks and other vehicles have pushed her into a few ditches. Despite the mishaps, Butler said she has never once thought about giving up cycling. "I'm not going to let something like that limit what I do," said Butler, a member of the Peninsula Bicycling Association. "I've been in more car accidents than I have biking.

The Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Day Challenge kicked off Monday, and it's headed our way – fast. Well, as fast as pedal power will allow. Ride 2 Recovery is produced by the Fitness Challenge Foundation to benefit mental and physical rehab programs for wounded U.S. veterans – programs that feature cycling as a core activity. There are various events, or "challenges," held throughout the year. The Memorial Day Challenge began at the Arlington National Cemetery, and now more than 225 wounded warriors and other soldiers are heading south through Manassas, Fredericksburg and Richmond.

Beginning May 21, Alyson Fletcher, 24, will begin biking 4,000 miles from Virginia Beach to Cannon Beach, Ore. to raise money and awareness for affordable housing. Fletcher is riding with 30 other recent college graduates as part of the Bike and Build program. Bike and Build is a nonprofit organization that organizes cross-country bicycle trips to benefit affordable housing groups. Along the 10-week journey, with riders averaging 70 to 80 miles a day, Fletcher will help build eight housing projects with Habitat for Humanity and other affordable housing organizations.

A field of 350 cyclists will be competing today in the 7th annual Southeastern Cycling Classic at Norfolk's Waterside, beginning at noon. The race, presented by The Tidewater Bicycle Association, will feature a 50-mile event at 1 p.m., in the Category I & II division. Cyclist Graham Miller of New Zealand, who placed eighth in the 1988 Olympic Games, will be one of a number of cyclists from New Zealand and Australia. Miller will be competing for the IME Team of Boston. The field will also include cyclists from Great Britain and France.

NEWSMAKERS Jennifer Dillon of Gloucester Point will ride in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Aug. 4-5. She will be among more than 5,000 cyclists in the 28th annual event, which has a goal of raising $27 million for adult and pediatric cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The route runs through 43 towns across Massachusetts. Cyclists are required to raise $1,000-$3,600 to ride; the average cyclist raises $5,500. To donate in Dillon's name, visit www.pmc.

Racers line up at the starting line, left, for the Category 3 race Saturday in Smithfield. The first HAMmer Fest Criterium was held on the cordoned off streets off of downtown. Races are divided into age and experience groups. Some riders compete with a team and others go it alone. Criterium races are known for their tight turns at high speeds. Bike racers, like NASCAR drivers, draft off of each other for increased speed. A photo gallery of this and past Stories Seen can be found online at dailypress.